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FAQ

While traveling I get the same questions over and over again “Where are you from?” “Where have you been”, etc. etc. we all have experienced the small talk. And now that I have started blogging, I am still getting the same questions over e-mails and social media. So to make it a bit easier for you and me, here is an attempt to answer all your FAQ!

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Where are you from?

I am from a beautiful country called the Netherlands a.k.a. Holland. If you have never heard of it, no worries, we are only a small country, we are famous for tulips, the Amsterdam canals, cheese, wooden shoes (no I do not own a pair), bicycles, legalized weed, windmills and a delicious cookie called the stroopwafel. Those will most likely be the things you will see, or buy, as a tourist in the Netherlands.

Why are you so tall?

Well the thing is, as you can read at question above, my 177cm (or 5’10”) tall body is from the Netherlands. We Dutchies are kind of known to be tall, the tallest in the world even.

How many languages do you speak?

Fluent? Only two, Dutch and English. However, I have some basic knowledge of German, French and Spanish. Why so many you might wonder? Well since we are only a small country, no one speaks our language, so our education system just integrated a couple of our neighbor’s languages instead.

How long have you been traveling?

On this trip? Since February ’17, so you can do the math. However, since 2013 I have also backpacked Europe, did a 4 month trip to South East Asia, lived in Montréal, Canada for half a year and have done tons and tons of weekend trips within Europe.

Don’t you want to go home?

You mean the Netherlands home? Calling a place home is a bit of a broader perspective in my opinion. To me, home is where my backpack is, my stuff is, where I am, not necessarily the place I grew up. Doesn’t mean I wouldn’t love to see my friends and family, I just consider the world to be my home instead.

How many countries have you been to?

Currently, I have been to 29 countries (including the Netherlands), all since I started traveling solo in 2013. Since then I have been to Belgium, Sweden, Germany, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria, Slovenia, Hungary, Croatia, Italy, France, Spain, United Kingdom, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, Malaysia, Singapore, Canada, USA, Iran, India, UAE, Taiwan, Hong Kong. You can see it all mapped out here!

Where will you be going next?

For now, only New Zealand is a definite on my planning, and I will most likely be staying there the full year of my visa. What comes after that? Hopefully Indonesia, Japan, the Philippines, those countries have been on my bucket list for a while. Maybe after that I’ll decide to head to South America, we’ll see.

What is your favorite country?

One of the hardest questions there is. To me, every country has something unique, and I will always try to find something to like about the place. However, after this trip I would have to say India is most likely my number one, for now…

How do you afford to travel the world?

Mostly, workworkworkworkwork. Traveling the world is not cheap. I can write 100 posts on “how to travel Europe on a budget” “how to get free accommodation” and etc. but let’s be real flights, food and all the other things still cost money. So no, I did not find gold at the other side of the rainbow, and no my parents are not rich. It is a simple work hard, save money, travel the world, kind of situation. Nonetheless, traveling on a budget is still important, in the end this is what allows me to keep on going for months at a time. On top of that, I’ve been earning small commissions with this website, which covers the cost of maintaining it.

What camera do you use?

Every picture has been taken with a Canon EOS 600D, a DSLR camera in combination with either the 18-55m kit lens (till 2017) or my recently bought 15-85mm canon lens. Buying a new lens, although expensive, has seriously improved the quality of my pictures. Should I buy that camera too? I personally am very happy with my camera, but the lens is the main reason of that. Moreover, buying a DSLR camera is only worth it, in my opinion, if you are willing to learn how your camera works. It is a lot of extra weight you are carrying around with you, don’t forget that. Want to read more about my camera gear? Read this article!

Are all the pictures on the website yours?

Yes they are, unless stated otherwise. While almost all pictures have been taken by me, some of the shots have been taken with the help of a stranger, friend, travel buddy, or a tripod and me running back and forth to the camera. If pictures are not taken by me, or edited by me, it will be stated underneath the picture!

Why is this website called Omnivagant?

Omnivagant, coming from the Latin words “omni” and “vagus”, meaning Wandering Anywhere and Everywhere. Something I have been doing, and planning to do, for a long long time.

I have more questions, how can I contact you?

If your question still goes unanswered, or are you interested in working with me? Fill in the contact form and I’ll do my best to get back to you asap!

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About Me

Hi, my name is Odette, a 20-something year old, traveling the world to see the most beautiful places and to share this with you, here, at Omnivagant.